Warship and other sea-going vessel.



T. G. 0. THURSTON.

WARSHIP AND OTHER SEA-GOING VESSEL.

APPLICATLON FILED MAR. 30. I916.

Patented Nov. 13, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

754076; 0 Til/6700 7% v/W T. G. O. THURSTON.

WARSHIP AND OTHER SEA-GOING VESSEL.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-30,1916. v

Patented Nov. 13, 1917.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS GEORGE OWENS THURSTON, OF WESTMINSTER, LONDbN, ENGLAND,

T0 VICKERS LIMITED, 01E LONDON, ENGLAND.

ASSIGNOR WARSHIP AND OTHER SEA-GOING VESSEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 30, 1916. Serial No. 87,843.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS GEORGE OWENS TnrrRs'roN, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Vickers House, Broadway, Westminster, in the county of London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or Relating to Warships and other Sea-going Vessels, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to ships, particularly large surfacevessels employed in naval warfare of the kind in which chambers are provided around the ship for the purpose of protecting it from the effect of submarine explosions by serving asresistance and expansion chambers for the explosion gases.

According to this invention the chambers are situated along the sides of the ship for a suitable distance forward and aft of midships, and are so constructed that the explosion gases of the torpedo or mine are allowed to expand into a voluminous outer compartment, the outer wall of which is convex or is similarly formed with a pronounced projecting wall in contact with the sea, and finally to be safely resisted by the strong structural form of an inner compartment of the said chambers. The inner wall or back of the outer compartment constitutes a partition between the outer and inner compartments and is composed of a suitably stiffened bulkhead or inner framing, which may be additionally stiffened to resist breakage by a longitudinal girder or girders extending along its back and preferably composed of semi-circular or box shaped plating and also preferably supported by means of flexible cables or the like extending transversely across the said girder and connected at their ends to the upper and lower portions'of the bulkhead or to other suitable parts.

The inner compartment which provides the final and strongest resistance to the explosion gases, is formed with a strong plated bulkhead which is preferably made approximately semi-circular in shape, that is to say it extends inwardly from the upper-portion and then extends outwardly toward the lower portion of the outer compartment.

In order that the said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect we will describe the same more fully w1th reference to the accompanying drawmgs, in which Flgures 1 and 2 are respectively a transyersc sect on and a diagrammatic plan showlng one side of a ship provided with a con,- structional form of the aforesaid chamber.

Flgs. 3 and 4 are views similar to Figs. 1 and 2 showing a modified form of the chamber, and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and3 ksgowmg another modified form of the chant- A represents the aforesaid voluminous outer compartment whose outer wall A pro ects beyond the contour of the ship and whose inner wall or back A constitutes the aforesaid partition between the outer and mner compartments. B represents the said mner compartment whose outer wall is constituted by the said inner wall' or back A of the outer compartment and whose inner wall 1s constituted by the bulkhead B of approximately semi-circular formation. A (Flg. 11 represents the aforesaid girder carried by the inner wall or back A and A represents one of the supporting cables of this girder. 4

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 the outer compartment A is made as volummous as possible by extending the outer projecting or convex wall A a suitable distance from the bulkhead or inner framing constituting the inner wall or back A which performs the duty of providing a longitudinal member of the structural portion of the main ships hull as well as to support the weight of the sidearmor A and other parts located above it., The said outer compartment is constructed of a braced framing or of considerably lightened plate frames arranged to combinethe bulkhead or inner framing A and the outer wall A of the compartment in the manner of an integral structural girder adapted to resist the water pressure on the said outer wall. The outer wall, when the distance separating it from the bulkhead or inner framing A is moderate, is preferably composed of a simple frame of rolled section, but where this distance is large the outer wall may be formed and constructed in the manner of a double hull framed in the cellular manner as is customary in the ordinary construction of a ships side framing and plating. In

Patented Nov. 13, 191 7.

'reason of its form and its framin structed as independently as poss1 le fromthat of the outer compartment A in order that any damage occurring to the latter may not be communicated directly to the rear of the curved bulkhead B which constitutes the final resistance. The said bulkhead B may'however be constructed as a vertically framed bulkhead, in which case the curvature (which is the factor giving a high resistance to pressure) is made in a corrugated form in plan view between the successive vertical frames behind the bulkhead.

In the constructional forms of the invention shown by Figs. 3 and 4: and by Fig. 5,

the bulkhead or inner framing A is constituted by a plate of relatively light character; this plate may if desired be perforated. In these constructions the girder A is dispensed with. The outer compartment A is also not provided with the braced open framing shown in Fig. 1.

The outer and inner compartments which extend as far as practicable through the length of the vital portion of the ship may be divided into a number of independent sub-compartments by means of transverse bulkheads or partitions a, I) (see Figs. 2 and 4). :The transverse bulkheads a, a in the outer compartment A are spaced at a convenient distance apart, and the partition of the inner compartment is arranged in a similar manner except that the transverse bulkheads I), b may as shown by Fig. 2 be situated successively forward and abaft the transverse bulkheads a, a, which sub-divide the outer compartment. In this manner, the separate transverse bulkheads of the compartments are stepped or staggered so that the damage occurring from an explosion can be more satisfactorily localized. The bulkheads a, a and b, b may be arranged to form relatively small changes a, a and b, b for the reception of oil fuel.

Toward the bow of the ship, the projecting outer compartment may be gradually merged into the form of the ships lines forward, or may be continued to some distance ahead of the ordinary stem. At the after end. adjacent to the propeller shafting, the said outer compartment may either be gradually merged into the ordinary form of the run of theivessel, or it may be constructed at its after extremity in the form of a projecting shield incorporated with the vessels hull in a manner suitable to give the form necessary for protecting the shafting and propellers.

When any of the outer compartments have become damaged by the entry of explosion gases, which have finally been resisted by the strong form of the inner compartment, it may be desirable to correct the heel of the ship by admitting water to flood certain inner compartments situated on the opposite side of the ship. This can be done automatically by connecting the compartments by means of an open pipe leading to any suitable water-tight compartments on the other side of the center line of the ship, or by other suitable means. Also compressed air may be used to discharge a portion of the water, from any flooded compartments, so that the ship can be made to float without taking up any undesirable angle of heel after any portion of the ships side has suffered through an explosion.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A vessel having along its side a series of chambers for the purpose of protecting it from the effect of submarine explosions by serving as resistance and expansion chambers for the explosion gases, each of the said chambers, comprising a voluminous outer compartment having an outer wall which projects beyond the usual and normal contour of the vessel, and an inner compartment of strong structuralform.

2. A vessel having along its sides a series of chambers for the purpose of protecting it from the effect of submarine explosions by serving as resistance and expansion cham bers for the explosion gases, each of said chambers comprising a voluminous outer compartment, an outer wall for said outer compartment which projects beyond the normal contour of the vessel, an inner compart ment of strong structural form, and an inner wall for said outer compartment which constitutes a partition between the said outer and the said inner compartments.

3. A vessel having along its sides a series of chambers for the purpose of protecting it from the effect of submarine explosions by serving as resistance and expansion chambers for the explosion gases, each of said chambers comprising a voluminous outer compartment, an inner compartment of strong structural form, an outer wall for the said outer compartment which projects beyond the normal contour of the vessel, an inner wall for the said outer compartment which constitutes a partition between the said outer and the said inner compartments, and means for stiffening said partition.

4:. A vessel having along its sides a series of chambers for the purpose of protecting it from the effect of submarine explosions by serving as resistance and expansion chambers for the explosion gases, each of said chambers comprising a voluminous outer compartment, an inner compartment of strong structural form, an outer wall for the said outer compartment which projects beyond the normal contour of the vessel, an inner wall for the said outer compartment which constitutes a partition between the said outer and the said inner compartments, and longitudinal girders for stiflening said partition.

5. A vessel having along its sides a series of chambers for the purpose of protecting it from'the efi'ect of submarine explosions by serving as resistance and expansion chambers for the explosion gases each of said chambers comprising a voluminous outer compartment, an inner compartment of strong structural form, an outer wall for the said outer compartment which projects be yond the normal contour of the vessel, an inner wall for the said outer compartment which constitutes a partition between the said outer and the said inner compartments and longitudinal girders for stifiening said partition, said longitudinal girders being supported by means of flexible cables extending transversely across the girders and secured at their ends.

6. A vessel having along its sides a series of chambers for the purpose of protecting it from the effect of submarine explosions by serving as resistance and expansion chambers for the explosion gases, each of the said chambers comprising a voluminous outer compartment having an outer wall which projects beyond the usual and normal contour of the vessel, and an inner compartment of strong structural form, said outer and inner compartments being divided intosubcompartments by transverse bulkheads.

7 A vessel having along its sidesa series of chambers for the purpose of protecting it from the effect of submarine explosions by serving as resistance and expansion chambers for the explosion gases, each of. said chambers comprising a voluminous outer compartment, an outer wall for said outer compartment which projects beyond the normal contour of the Vessel, an inner compartment of strong structural form, and an iimer wall for said outer compartment which constitutes a partition between the said outer and the said inner compartments, said outer and inner compartments being said chambers comprising a voluminous,

outer. compartment, an inner compartment of strong structural form, an outer wall for the said outer compartment which projects beyond the normal contour of the vessel, an

7 inner wall for the said outer compartment which constitutes a partition between the said outer and the said inner compartments, and longitudinal girders for stifiening said partition, said outer and inner compartments being divided into sub-compartments by transverse bulkheads.

9. A vessel having along its sides a series of chambers for the purpose of protecting it from the eii'ect of submarine explosions by serving as resistance and expansion chambers for the explosion gases, each of said chambers comprising a voluminous outer compartment, an inner compartment of strong structural form, an outer wall for the said outer'compartment which projects beyond the norm-a1 contour of the vessel, an inner wall for the said outer compartment which constitutes a partition between the said outer and the said inner compartments, and longitudinal girders for stiffening said partition, said longitudinal girders being supported by means of flexible cables extending transversely across the girders and secured at their ends, said outer and inner compartments being divided into sub-compartments by transverse bulkheads.

. 10. A vessel having along its, sides a series of chambers for the purpose of protecting it from the effect of submarine explosions by serving as resistance and expansion chambers for the explosion gases, each of said chambers comprising a voluminous outer compartment, an outer wall for said outer compartment which projects beyond the normal contour of the vessel, an inner compartment constituted by a strong plated approximately semi-circular shaped bulkhead, which extends inwardly from the upper portion and then extends outwardly toward the lower portion of the outer compartment, and an inner wall for said outer compartment which constitutes a partition between said outer. and inner compartments.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

THOMAS GEORGE OWENS THUBSTON.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,246,494, granted November 13,

1917, upon the application of Thomas George Owens Thurston, of Westminster,

London, England, for an improvementin Warships and other Sea-Going Vessels, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 56, for the word changes read chambers; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may confonn to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice. I

Signed and sealed this 12th day of February, A. D., 1918.

' J. T. NEWTON,

Commissioner of Patents.

[SEAL] 

